Raimon Land – Sportsboats win at Langkawi Regatta

The 6th Royal International Langkawi Regatta consisting of 8 inshore races was held from 5th – 11th January 2008.

‘Raimon Land’ fresh after a very convincing victories in Phuket Race Week and the 2007 King’s Cup became an ‘offshore sports-boat’ temporarily sailing the 120 nautical mile journey from Phuket to compete in the 2008 Royal Langkawi International Regatta. Competition in the Sportsboat division was the highest seen in many years with the inclusion of the two new Longtze Premier, Thompson 6.8s sailed by America’s Cup veterans Pierre Mas and Thierry Barot and Platu 25 Navy 1 helmed by Mohd Razali B Manasor fresh from representing Malaysia in the S.E. Asian Games.

Race 1 was held in Langkawi’s Bass-Harbour and got underway in light to moderate conditions of 10 knots that soon increased up to 20 knots. Smoking downwind inside the harbour at speeds in the high teens ‘Raimon Land’ sporting a new 1.5 metre square-top, mainsail, quickly took a commanding lead to finish first and fastest and was never really challenged in the fresh conditions.

The breeze lightened in race 2 which appeared to favour the smaller Platu and Longtze class yachts. ‘Raimon Land’ was first across the line again but was not quite fast or far enough in front to take a double victory but managed a respectable second on corrected time with the Malaysian Navy team sailing very well to take first place and Longtze Langkawi third.

Similar conditions on day two saw the results of race 3 and 4 reversed with ‘Raimon Land’ scoring a second and first and Pierre Mass first and second on Longtze Premier.

Race 5 on Day 3 was held outside the harbour in the Malacca-Straits where the quite choppy conditions appeared to favour the larger Phuket Sport 8, ‘Raimon Land’. After a well timed Port tack start ‘Raimon Land’ quickly took a commanding lead and revelled in the choppy sea state to record another first and fastest with Navy 1 and Longtze Premier in second and third places respectively.

Day 4 and ‘Raimon Land’ with another good result was poised to win the regatta and the championship title. Wind conditions were lightening however and it was a concern the smaller Platu and Longtze classes maybe able to mount a late challenge. After two careful and rather conservative starts ‘Raimon Land’ put in a near perfect performance in the light air, with tactician Aaron ‘Rehab’ Taunt calling the shots superbly to score two more first and fastest victories in races 6 and 7.

‘Raimon Land’s final results 1-2-2-1-1-1-1. The regatta won with a race in hand and well and truly “at the top of the sportsboat category.”

Overall Standings

1st Raimon Land (Scott Duncanson) 9 points
2nd Navy 1 (Mohd Razali B Manasor) 17 points
3rd Longtze Premier (Pierre Mas) 17 points